Wildlife officers are keeping a close eye on the northeast side of the Banff townsite after receiving an anonymous call from someone saying they had to fight off a cougar after it knocked them to the ground.

Late Thursday, dispatchers received the report about the cougar encounter around noon in the industrial compound on the edge of town.

“The person reported being knocked to the ground and then fending off the animal and then departing,” said Bill Hunt, manager of resource conservation for the Banff field unit of Parks Canada.

No injuries were reported and few details were offered by the caller.

As a result, officials haven’t been able to pinpoint the exact location or find any physical evidence of the encounter.

They have put a cougar warning in effect as a precaution.

“We know from camera data that we always do have a number of cougars in and around the townsite, but not with this kind of behaviour,” said Hunt, noting people should be cautious in the area.

It includes the northeast end of the townsite — including the train tracks from the compound to the train station, Marmot Crescent, Whiskey Creek and the industrial compound area.

Veronica Marchand, owner of Veronica’s Dog Grooming in the industrial area, said they are always cautious.

“We have an off-leash park here and we have a corridor right in our backyard where we operate our business — there’s a corridor where the wildlife goes,” she said, noting they often see bears right outside the fenced park.

Marchand said it’s a concern when wildlife gets aggressive.

“Every time a cougar attacks somebody, everybody talks about that and then afterwards life goes back to normal,” she said. “We live in their territory.

“People should be aware of wildlife in Banff.”

Visitors to the area are urged to travel in groups, keep their pets on a leash and avoid recreating with earbuds in.

Should you encounter a cougar, Hunt said it’s important to assert yourself — trying to look big or sticking close together if in a group.

“Just try to look as large and impressive as you can,” he said. “Make some noise and back away, maintaining eye contact with a cougar. Unlike a bear, where you don’t want to appear challenging in any way, with a cougar it’s appropriate to stare them down and not turn your back on them.”

Anyone who sees a cougar, including the original anonymous caller, is asked to call Banff dispatch at 403-762-1470.

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